Evaluation of the mini-nutritional assessment short-form (MNA-SF) among institutionalized older patients in Spain.

Introduction: In the present study, we evaluated a short form version of MNA test in a multicenter study and the relationship of different biochemical markers with MNASF scores.

Material And Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey covering a sample of representative of the older institutionalized Spanish population aged above 65 years (n = 873). A Mini nutritional assessment short form test (MNA-SF) was used.

Results: The number of patients classified as well nourished (42.1%) was larger in the 65-74 (52.6%) range than in the 75-84 (40.2%), 85-94 (43.8%) and > 95 (24%) age ranges. Risk of undernutrition occurred in a total of 506 patients (57.9%), risk of undernutrition was larger in > 95 (76%) range than in 65-74 (47.4%), 75-84 (59.8%) and 85-94 range (56.2%). No differences were detected between males and females at risk of undernutrition (odds ratio: 0.85 CI 95%: 0.64-1.12).

Conclusion: In this multicenter study, institutionalized patients have a high prevalence of at risk of malnutrition assessed by MNA-SF test.